[Originally a homily given at Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA in Fall 2017]
A Reading from the Second Book of Kings (2nd Kings 4:42-44):
A man came from Baal-Shalishah. He brought the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and some heads of fresh grain. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for the Lord says, ‘You will eat and have some left over.’” He set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, just as the Lord had said.
The first thing that we may notice about this passage is that it calls to mind Jesus’ only miracle(s) in all four gospels - the feeding of the 5000 and later the 4000. Many of the miracles performed my Elisha and his mentor Elijah foreshadowed and parallel the miracles of Jesus. In fact, many who heard of these miracles in the 1st century would have recalled Elisha’s feeding of the 100. It is also worth reflecting that the name of this place, Baal-Shalishah, literally means “The Lord Who Multiplies,” appropriately enough. These things are important in the story, but I would like to suggest another way of looking at it.
Early on in my college career, I heard Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 interpreted not as a supernatural miracle, but rather as a shining example of communal sharing in the midst of scarcity. Consider this story in that light. Even though there was a famine in the land at this time, the man made bread and gave the first fruits to Elisha. These “first fruits” were only given to Levitical priests to offer up to God, so it is significant that the man gives them to the prophet Elisha. But even more significant is that Elisha did not keep the 20 loaves, he chose to share it with those who were hungry. This is the lesson for us today - that of sharing.
As you know, my brothers, two weeks ago there was a major hurricane right over Florida [Hurricane Irma], and I was on edge for a few days as we prayed for my mother’s safety. After the storm we breathed a collective sigh of relief - but then her and the other families in her community discovered that they were without power. So what did they do? The community came together and prepared a big outdoor feast - a Last Supper. Or was it a First Supper? This is a concrete example of the sharing we are called to in this story.
It is what we hear as well when Christ speaks in the Eucharistic narrative, “This is my body, which will be given up for you.” We too are invited to offer up and share ourselves with each other. Sharing our time, our love, our brokenness and our humanness.
This is the Daily Bread we share with each other.
Amen.